Motor Vehicle Accidents

You’ve been in a car accident — do you need a lawyer?

If you've been injured in a motor vehicle accident, you should promptly seek legal representation.

A person who's been injured in a motor vehicle collision, whether it's a car, motorcycle, snowmobile or ATV accident, should promptly contact a lawyer otherwise important information can be lost, including the ability to take photographs of the vehicles involved, obtain statements from witnesses and collect material evidence from the scene.

Insurance adjusters for the negligent driver, and in many instances, the injured person’s own insurance company, may attempt to obtain statements from the injured party, and may request that they sign medical authorizations to obtain access to his or her medical records. In most instances, it’s unnecessary to provide an open-ended authorization.

It’s important for the person who is injured to seek the proper medical treatment and not attempt to resolve the claim until the treatment is 100% complete.

If the person signs a release of liability in exchange for payment, the insurance company will no longer pay for medical treatment. Releases of liability contain complicated legal language which should be reviewed by the injured person’s attorney.

What can a personal injury lawyer do to help?

Gather names of insurance companies and policy numbers of all involved

Write down how and where the car accident occurred

Take photos of damage to all vehicles

Document injuries of all drivers and passengers

Confer with an attorney before giving out any statements

An attorney can assist the person who's been injured in a car accident by communicating with the various entities involved, including the other driver’s insurance company, and medical providers, without concern for the statements being interpreted as “admissions.”

The insurance company's interests and yours are not typically the same. Some insurance companies could be working on thousands of cases at once. At Lipman & Katz, our local attorneys have a team of professionals working on your individual case to make sure you get the most amount of compensation possible.

Maine is a modified comparative fault state. This means that to successfully bring a claim for negligence involving a motor vehicle accident, the injured person must prove that the other driver was more than 50% at fault. The injured person must also prove that he or she was injured, and that the other driver’s negligence was the cause.

In many instances, the cause of the accident, or “liability,” isn't clear cut. In addition, the injured person may have suffered from a prior medical condition or have a chronic medical condition that may complicate proving that the injuries from the collision were actually caused by the collision itself rather than resulting from some other source.

There are other complex issues that an attorney may assist with, including negotiating medical liens. If a person’s negligence caused you to suffer grievous injuries, they're potentially responsible for a number of types of damages such as

Medical expenses

Lost wages due to injury or hospital visits

Future earning ability

Damaged property

Emotional pain and suffering

Cost of household help

Bottom line, if a person has been seriously injured, they will benefit from focusing on getting the appropriate medical care and having an attorney handle the legal issues.

Why you should contact Lipman & Katz

At Lipman & Katz, it is of the utmost importance to us that our clients are fairly treated, and justly compensated.

We have several of the best personal injury attorneys in Maine and we can help you get the settlement you deserve. We'll ensure that you understand the details of your case and guide you through the legal steps that you should take. Working as a team, we'll get to know you and the details of the accident thoroughly so that we can confidently handle your case in the best way possible, whether in court or outside of, and obtain the maximum possible settlement or verdict on your behalf.

If you or a family member has been injured in an automobile accident, contact us online using our free inquiry form or call us today at 1-800-660-3713 to discuss your legal options.

DISCLAIMER: This website is for general information purposes only. It is not intended as advertising, and neither solicits business nor offers legal advice. Lipman & Katz attorneys do not seek to practice law in any state, territory, or foreign country where they are not authorized to do so. Please do not send any confidential information to Lipman & Katz through this site. Please direct your comments and questions to email@lipmankatz.com.

DISCLAIMER: This website is for general information purposes only. It is not intended as advertising, and neither solicits business nor offers legal advice. Lipman & Katz attorneys do not seek to practice law in any state, territory, or foreign country where they are not authorized to do so. Please do not send any confidential information to Lipman & Katz through this site. Please direct your comments and questions to email@lipmankatz.com.